8 Tips To Help You Choose The Right Real Estate Agent

Selling your home is one of the biggest transactions you’ll make in your life, and for property owners who have never sold before, it can be an intimidating process. The right real estate agent can ultimately impact this process positively, which is why it is crucial to choose carefully. But how do you come to this decision? In this blog, we are sharing our top tips on how to decide whether your real estate agent is right for you.

#1: Look for knowledge of the market

Knowledge of the local market is a key skill for a real estate agent to have. Your real estate agent should know the locality and its assets, as this is an important part of how your property is going to be marketed.

The nearest schools, walking-distance cafés and local public transport systems are just some examples of assets that can be very attractive to buyers. A local real estate agent will have a good understanding of these plus-points and will be able to bring that knowledge to your real estate strategy.

#2: Research is key

Conducting research on your real estate agent is a good way to find out whether they are the right fit for you. Luckily, most of what you need to know is accessible online, so it pays to spend some time sifting through the information to get the answers you’re after.

Some ways you could do your research include:

Reading the reviews and testimonials from past customers

Seeking referrals from other homeowners in the area

Look at their past results (How many listings do they have? What are their past sales like? How do they market their properties?)

#3: Set some goals

It is extremely important to know and understand the way in which your real estate agent plans to sell your home. A great way to get the conversation started is to set some marketing objectives with your agent (such as dates for professional photography, and writing content strategy) for various stages of selling your property. Setting goals will also help you check in on the selling process.

#4: Ask about the digital game plan

Your marketing strategy should not simply be limited to print media. Social media is a powerful tool that should be utilised in your game plan as well, and you should ensure you enquire about your real estate agent’s digital strategy.

When selling your home, it’s important to ask about:

What kind of digital listings/social media strategy is available

The level of exposure your listing will reach online

How your agent plans to target online audiences

#5: Take notes on communication

How well your real estate agent communicates is can either be a red flag or a key indicator that you’ve made the right choice. You should be looking for honesty and transparency, especially when it comes to the tough questions.

When faced with these questions, the ideal real estate agent will be honest about the risks involved, and then present you with a plan on mitigating those risks.

#6: Ask the important questions

Don’t be afraid to ask important or difficult questions, because ultimately, the transaction is going to affect you. You should collect as much information as you can before the sale strategy even begins. Additionally, the right real estate agent will be able to answer any queries or concerns you may have.

These are some examples of questions that are difficult (but necessary) to ask:

Is now the right time to sell?

What do your real estate fees include?

How can I improve my chances of selling?

#7: Watch them in action

Sometimes, the best way to discern whether or not a real estate agent is right for you is to see how they interact with buyers in person. A good way to do this is to visit an open house inspection and make notes on:

How well the agent communicates the features of the property

How good the agent is at making buyers feel comfortable

Whether the agent follows up on enquiries after the inspection

#8: Remember, comfort is everything

When selling your home, you should feel comfortable enough to discuss any concerns you may have with your real estate agent. Being able to create and nurture that level of comfort, trust and teamwork is a good sign that your agent is willing to have open and honest discussions about your real estate strategy.

Selling your home is easy with Red23

At Red23, we are dedicated to maintaining transparency and teamwork with all our clients, including property owners looking to sell. We are passionate about sharing our 10 years of experience with you, no matter how much – or how little – you know about real estate.

We make selling your home easy. Give us a call today on 03 8372 2122 to find out how we can make your real estate dreams come true.